The RegistryCounty Record · California
Personal Injury Lawyers in Santa Cruz County, California
Every personal injury lawyer and personal injury attorney listing on this page traces back to the State Bar of California's official roll, filtered to personal injury matters arising in Santa Cruz County. Verification describes profile identity, not quality or outcomes.
A Monterey Bay county pairing the university town of Santa Cruz with the Pajaro Valley's agriculture; the main courthouse sits in Santa Cruz, with a Watsonville branch serving the south county. The court of record is the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz — counsel who appear there regularly read the local calendar better than any brochure.
Before comparing counsel, note the clock. Under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1, the governing period is two years from the date of injury. Claims against a public entity require an administrative claim within six months under Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2. Property-damage-only claims run three years under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 338.
The clock & the court
Two years from the date of injury.
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1
Claims against a public entity require an administrative claim within six months under Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2. Property-damage-only claims run three years under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 338.
Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz.
County seat: Santa Cruz
Official court information, locations, and filing rules: www.santacruz.courts.ca.gov
Personal Injury · Santa Cruz County roster
Personal Injury questions, cited
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in California?
Generally two years from the date of injury under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1. If the claim is against a city, county, or the State, a written government claim is usually required within six months under Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2 — long before the lawsuit deadline. Some deadlines are extended for minors or delayed discovery, and some are shorter, so the safest course is to confirm the specific deadline for your facts early.
What if I was partly at fault for my accident?
California follows pure comparative negligence, adopted in Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804. A recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than barred — a claimant found 30% at fault can still recover 70% of proven damages, and even a claimant found mostly at fault may recover the remaining share.
What damages can I recover after a California car accident?
Economic damages (medical bills, lost earnings, property damage) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering) are both recoverable, per Cal. Civ. Code § 3333. There is no general cap outside medical malpractice, but Cal. Civ. Code § 3333.4 (Proposition 213) generally bars non-economic damages for drivers who were uninsured at the time of the crash.
Is California a no-fault state for car accidents?
No. California is a fault (tort) state: the negligent driver — through their insurer — is responsible for the harm they cause. Cal. Veh. Code §§ 16000 et seq. require drivers to carry liability coverage, and injured people may pursue the at-fault driver's insurer directly or file suit within the two-year period of Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1.
Who is liable for a dog bite in California?
The dog's owner, in most cases regardless of the animal's history. Cal. Civ. Code § 3342 imposes strict liability on owners for bites occurring in a public place or while the victim is lawfully in a private place — no proof of prior viciousness or owner negligence is required. Separate negligence theories can reach landlords or keepers in some circumstances.
Legal information, not legal advice.
From the answer files
Related counsel in Santa Cruz County
Personal Injury in nearby counties
Read the record. Then decide.
Describe your matter once, review the verified records, and place the call — the choice is always yours.
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